How does supply chain decentralization drive disruptive innovation?: An Analytical Framework Based on Complex Adaptive Systems

Against the backdrop of slowing global economic growth, increasing energy pressures, and escalating societal development needs, fostering disruptive innovation has become a core strategy for countries to build modern industrial systems and achieve sustainable, high-quality economic development. However, rising geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism have heightened the uncertainties and resource constraints surrounding corporate innovation activities. In this context, building an innovation ecosystem that is resilient, secure, open, and sustainable has emerged as a critical issue to be addressed at both the corporate and national levels. Based on this, this study employs complex adaptive systems theory as its analytical framework and conducts an empirical analysis using panel data from China’s A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2024. The results indicate that supply chain decentralization significantly promotes corporate disruptive innovation, a relationship that is partially mediated by enhancing the firm’s strategic persistence. However, internal resource misallocation and external supply chain disruption risks significantly weaken this positive effect. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals that the promoting effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, small-sized enterprises, companies with relatively dispersed equity structures, and the process manufacturing industry.Accordingly, this study proposes that firms should proactively optimize their supply chain governance models, incorporating decentralized structures into their long-term innovation strategies. Moreover, firms must simultaneously improve internal resource allocation efficiency and external risk resilience. While advancing decentralization, they should refine internal resource allocation evaluation mechanisms and establish buffer measures such as dynamic monitoring of supply chain disruption risks and multi-sourcing strategies.